Two-time Hungarian world junior canoe sprint champion Andras Redl has returned a positive drug test and will be suspended for four years.

19-year-old Redl tested positive to EPO in an out-of-competition test conducted in July this year by the Hungarian Anti-Doping Agency. His ban will run from July 23, 2020, until July 22 in 2024.

Redl won gold medals in the junior K1 500 and K1 1000 at the 2019 ICF U23 and junior canoe sprint world championships in Romania in 2019.

The chairman of the ICF’s medical and anti-doping committee, Dr Don McKenzie, said the positive test should act as a warning, especially for young athletes.

“Young athletes who might consider taking performance enhancing substances to possibly give them extra strength and speed need to understand the serious consequences attached to such actions,” Dr McKenzie said.

“Not only will they be caught, and as a result have their sporting careers ruined, but there are also serious health implications, especially for younger athletes.

“The news of a positive test result from a teenage athlete from Hungary underlines the importance of our anti-doping education program. There can be no excuses for any athlete, coach or medical personnel involved in doping.”

Redl has 21 days from when he received the sanction to appeal the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.